The Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) pleased to announce the 2018-19 grantees for Regional Artist Project Grant (RAPG), a program of the North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC). The RAPG program provides the opportunity for regional consortia of arts councils to award grants to artists within their regions. These grants support professional artists in any discipline, and at any stage in their careers to pursue projects that further their professional development. This year, a total of $16,000 was distributed to 19 artists.

RAPG is sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the Asheville Area Arts Council, Madison Arts Council, Toe River Arts Council, and additional support from Avery County.

Congratulations to the following 2018-2019 RAPG awardees:

Buncombe County:

Alex Krug [$600]: To support the recording of Alex Krug Combo’s sophomore studio album as a multigenerational band.

Martha Skinner [$800]: To launch a traveling exhibition, Living Section Retrospective of my Fertility, through promotional videos and customization of website to expand the reach of her art practice and vision.

Molly Sawyer [$400]: To support the wool processing of the site-specific installation for Appalachia Now! Opening at the Asheville Art Museum in Spring 2019.

Sara Mulvey [$750]: To expand knowledge of large format photography with wet plate process of ultra large format by shooting mammoth plates with John Coffer.

Stephanie Johnson [$500]: To seek a professional manuscript consultation of her book, Salt Pillar Bride.

Tricia Tripp [$1000]: To record second album, with band, Hearts Gone South, in a professional studio, with a highly reputable sound engineer.

Whitney Moore [$1000]: Record an album of swing music about Asheville in the 20s and 40s based on stories of her grandparents.

Juan Holladay [$600]: Give Secret B-Sides last studio album, “Welcome to Soul City”, a final edit and proper release in honor of late band member, Jeff K’norr.

From Madison County:

Jack Sorkin [$1000]: To print and frame, Rodeo Boys, an environmental porturature project exploring concepts of masculinity through images of young men at the Madison County rodeo.

Susan Patrice [$1000]: To hand-build cameras and purchase supplies to photograph round, Overtaken, a project which focuses on the lush, sensual, and feminine landscape of the Southern Appalachian region.

From Mitchell County:

Eleanor Annand [$1000]: To purchase a drawing tablet to work more efficiently and to expand drawing horizons.

Joy Tanner [$500]: To purchase two new burners to update and improve current gas fired soda kiln.

Laura Wood [$800]: To acquire a manual hydraulic press as a means to create volume in metal and for use in the enameling process to create a new body of work.

Thomas Campbell [$1200]: To procure a pan brake in order to continue exploration of both sculptural and functional steel work.

The winners were chosen by a group of 26 volunteer peer review panelists who meet in October and November to review the applications and interview the top scoring applicants. Panel members are artists, arts administrators, and respected community leaders from each of the participating counties, with expertise in one or more of the six categories [Visual 3-D, Visual 2-D, Ceramics, Literary, Performance, Media]. We truly thank these volunteers for their time and expertise. If you think you would like to be on a grant panel, please contact Janelle Wienke, AAAC Grants Manager.

The 2019-20 RAPG deadline will be in October 2019. Please check back for dates and application/information. Announcements will be made in our newsletter and on our website.

The Regional Artist Project Grant is a program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The North Ca rolina Arts Council builds on our state’s long-standing love of the arts, leading the way to a more vibrant future. The Arts Council is an economic catalyst, fueling a thriving nonprofit creative sector that generates $2.12 billion in annual direct economic activity. The Arts Council also sustains diverse arts expression and traditions while investing in innovative approaches to art-making. The North Carolina Arts Council has proven to be a champion for youth by cultivating tomorrow’s creative citizens through arts education. Learn more at NCArts.org.

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